Summary Says there is no excuse for anyone to oppose peaceful gas pipeline project.
TEHRAN (Agencies) - Alluding to the United States, Iranian President Mahmood Ahmadinejad accused foreign elements of seeking to undermine Iran s relations with Pakistan and to thwart the Islamic Republic s progress by using its nuclear programme as a pretext.
"I want to tell those individuals that the gas pipeline has no connection whatsoever with the nuclear case," Ahmadinejad said in a translated address broadcast live on state television that followed the ground-breaking ceremony.
"With natural gas you cannot make atomic bombs. That s why they should have no excuse to oppose this pipeline."
He described it as peace pipeline project that would bring the 2 countries still closer.
He said the project reflected determination of the 2 countries for mutual cooperation for the benefit of their people.
He said gas pipeline project is beginning of the work and the pipeline can be extended to the North and East of Pakistan.
Earlier President Asif Ali Zardari and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad jointly inaugurated the final construction phase at a ceremony held in the Iranian city of Chah Bahar near Pak-Iran border.
The 2 presidents together unveiled the plaque of the mega project.
The ceremony was attended by a large number of foreign dignitaries‚ ministers‚ members of parliament and political leaders from both the countries.
The 1600 kilometer long 42 inch diameter pipeline will enable the import of 21.5 million cubic meters of Iranian natural gas to Pakistan on a daily basis. Iran has already completed the 900 kilometer pipeline in its territory.
Pakistan has already brushed aside the foreign pressure regarding the mega project‚ stating that it is being commissioned purely to meet its growing energy needs in the economic and domestic sector.
